Car-coupling



(No Model.)

B. F. BARKER. GAR COUPLING.

No. 465,124. Patented Dec, 15, 1 891.

NIIED dramas Parent @rricn.

EDIVIN F. BARKER, OF VEVAY, INDIANA.

CAR-CUM PLI N6.

7 SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. &65,124=, datedDecember 15, 1891.

Application filed August 31, 1891. Serial No. 404,254. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN F. BARKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vevay, in the county of Switzerland and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bolt-DroppingAttachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is primarily adapted to hold and ship a coupling-pin on thedraw-head of a railroad-car. It is, however, adapted for holding andshipping belts in various other structures where a bolt-coupling isemployed to unite the parts of a-structure.

The object of my invention is to hold the bolt in position to registerwith and enter the hole when the supporting device is shipped.

Another object of my invention is to combine this device with thedraw-head of a car, so that the coupling-pin will be automaticallyshipped to couple the cars, all of which will be fully set forth in thedescription of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a topplan view of one form applied to the draw-head of a car. Fig. 2 is a topplan View of a modification. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of thedevice shown in Fig. 2.

I have shown and will describe my invention in the manner in which it,is used with the draw-head of a car, and this specification will enablethose ordinarily skilled to adapt it to other uses to which it isapplicable.

'1 is a draw-head of an ordinary freight-car; 2, the bumper at the endthereof; 3, the coupling-pin hole; 4, the coupling-pin.

5 represents a journal-bracket attached to the draw-head and whichforms-a guide and bearing for the shank G of the holding-jaws 7. Theseholding-jaws are preferably made of spring-steel having a groove 8 ofsufficient size to grasp the pin when the jaws are engaged. Thejaws arenormally set, so that the pin is held vertically over the pin-hole or inthe advanced position, the end of the pin resting in the pin-hole, asseen in Fig. 3.

9 represents a link or coupling pin loosely held in the projecting endsof the jaws.

10 represents a shipping-arm which projects through the flange of thebumper-head and in such position that it will strike the opposingbumper.

In the modification shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the rear end or shank 6 isheld rigidly in the bracket 5, while the jaws are free to open or close.11 represents a yoke sliding in guides 12 and provided with inclinedprojections 13, whereby the jaws are held in the closed posi tion whenthe yoke is in the forward position and releases thejaws, allowing thepin to drop into position when the yoke is forced back by the opposingbumper.

In Fig. 2 the jaws are shown constructed so that the spring-jaws arenormally open and are forced together to hold the pin, so that when theshipping-baris struck by an object to force it backward the jaws springapart allowing the pin to drop through, while in Fig. 1 the jaws arenormally closed and are sprung open by the pin, the lower end of whichrests in the hole 3, as the jaws are pressed backward, the pin droppingdown between the outer ends of the jaws.

The shifting bar or lever mightbe operated by hand; but I prefer to haveit operated automatically when applied to a car, so that the operatorsimply has to adjust the parts and put a pin into the holding-jaws whenthe striking of the shipping-lever will open the jaws and allow thepinto drop into position without the aid of the operator. These partsmay be variously modified in construction, or either of the forms hereinshown may be advantageously used wherever it is desired to make a safetyholding attach ment for coupling bolts or pins.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. Thereciprocating curved holding-jaws 7, adapted to encircle the bolt orpin, and means for retracting said jaws to release and drop the sameinto position, substantially as specifled.

2. The curved spring-holding jaws 7, the journal 5, within which theshank '6 reciprocates, and means for retracting said jaws toautomatically open and release the bolt or pin held therein,substantially as specified.

In combination with the draw-head of a car, the curved spring-jaws '7,the shank 10, projecting forward of the bumper, whereby the holding-jawsare automatically tripped by the car engagement, substantially asspecified.

olines 13 for forcing said jaws together to hold the pin in position toregister with the pinhole, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDYVIN F. BARKER.

Vitnesses:

O. W. MILES, W. R. Wool).

